Latin America after the Orient.

[ladislav]

After Southeast Asia closed due to COVID, I had no choice but to head to Mexico and Brazil.

I use the word Orient intentionally because “Asia” also includes places like Turkey and Iran, whose people don’t resemble the Chinese, Japanese, or Koreans in appearance or culture.

Here are some of my impressions:

I felt immense relief looking like so many locals. I’m a short, Mediterranean-looking guy—somewhere between Zelensky, Al Pacino, and Billy Joel. After spending 10 years in places like Thailand, Japan, and the Philippines, I always stood out like a sore thumb. I was the bule, gaijin, matsaleh, foreign devil, farang, porener, kano—a visibly foreign person whom no one addressed in the local language, whom some people actively avoided, and whom no one ever asked for directions.

That all changed. The gaijin complex was gone.

In Mexico, I wasn’t seen as a gaijin, and not even as a gringo, since I don’t look Anglo. I blended in. People spoke to me in Spanish, called me señor, caballero, and treated me like an equal—something I hadn’t experienced in decades. In Ukraine, people would call me "Hebrew," "Israel," or "Italian." But in Mexico, none of that. People even stopped me on the street to ask for directions—once, even a taxi driver. And I was able to give them directions. That felt amazing.

What wasn’t so great was that women didn’t pay me any special attention. I was just another guy on the street. And honestly, many women in Mexico were overweight—especially in comparison to the slim figures I was used to in the Philippines. After seeing so many petite women in Southeast Asia, encountering some women with rhino-sized rears was a shock. Physically, few Mexican women compared to the Thai or Filipina women, many of whom could truly take your breath away. Still, most were friendly and open to conversation with strangers, which I appreciated.

In Brazil, the vibe was different. The people were a lot harsher, more guarded, and looked somewhat mistrustful. Brazilians aren’t Hispanic, so they don’t carry that Spanish-style politeness or warmth. Women would look at me and then frown and lower their eyes. Some seemed hostile or acted as though they wanted to avoid me. A few even refused to get into elevators with me. Since I don’t look very different from a typical Paulista, I didn’t stand out—but that also meant I wasn’t treated as anything special. And again, most women didn’t compare to those in the Philippines or Thailand in terms of beauty. Many were overweight or just large. I visited a few red-light districts, but even there, the women came off as haughty—much like in the U.S.

That said, Brazilian men were incredibly friendly and easy to talk to, much like in Mexico. They were open, relaxed, and eager to make conversation or friendship.

Of course, there were some rude people. Once, I approached a woman selling trinkets and asked her what something—possibly a mirror—was for. She snapped at me and said it was for looking into my ass.

Later, I visited the Amazon region, specifically Manaus. People there—both men and women—were much friendlier and more approachable. But still, I wasn’t treated as anyone special. Only when they noticed my accent in Portuguese did they show extra interest or curiosity.

I had studied Portuguese and Spanish formally, so I was fluent, but my accent in Portuguese was from Sao Paolo and not all liked it.

In general, I found that Brazilian women tend to act arrogant and often display misandry. Mexican women, in contrast, don’t seem to carry that attitude at all.

Socially, overall it was much better than the US, but I was no longer anything special, positively or negatively.

If you go, remember that YMMV

[kangarunner]

@ladislav Look laddy, I'm going to real here. What are you running from? What are you escaping from? Why do you use travel as a way to run away and escape from something in your life?

All you wanted was a warm home and a wife. Deep down, you know that's what you want. But you're running from it. And one day, it will be too late.

[yick]

I am a Latin American with citizenship and they call me a gringo even though I look like one of them because of how I speak Spanish and the way I move and dress. I had this debate with a young taco seller who spoke great English how I was a gringo and Canelo Alvarez wasn't, he just said that's how it was.

I don't care though, living, dating, getting citizenship and everything else is easier there than anywhere in Asia. You have a chance of living in Latin America permanently, they're fair with the rules, do you think the Philippines will give you citizenship?

I was in Mexico two years ago and there were loads of beautiful girls. Enough for me anyway, how many beautiful girls does a man need?

[ladislav]

@ladislav Look laddy, I'm going to real here. What are you running from? What are you escaping from? Why do you use travel as a way to run away and escape from something in your life?

All you wanted was a warm home and a wife. Deep down, you know that's what you want. But you're running from it. And one day, it will be too late.

Well, it is already too late because I am kind of over the hill. But I still like female company and in the US, I cannot find good quality. As far as " running away", it's not so much " away" but "towards". I always like exploring new social opportunities, meeting new people, learning new languages. but in the US it is kind of dull. And I do not like marrying because of all the laws in the US.

[ladislav]

I am a Latin American with citizenship and they call me a gringo even though I look like one of them because of how I speak Spanish and the way I move and dress. I had this debate with a young taco seller who spoke great English how I was a gringo and Canelo Alvarez wasn't, he just said that's how it was.

I don't care though, living, dating, getting citizenship and everything else is easier there than anywhere in Asia. You have a chance of living in Latin America permanently, they're fair with the rules, do you think the Philippines will give you citizenship?

I was in Mexico two years ago and there were loads of beautiful girls. Enough for me anyway, how many beautiful girls does a man need?

Yes, you have a point. But that man was only one man with such an opinion. Who knows what other people think? But aren't you supposed to be a " pocho" and not a " Gringo"?

For some reason, Mexicans see me as some kind of Arab, and not a Gringo. They say I speak Spanish like an Arab. This is why personal experiences are just so different. Every person experiences a totally different reality.

Where in your opinion is a place in Mexico where ladies are not chubby in such a large %%?

[yick]

He called me a 'gringo' he didn't think I even looked Latino even though in my opinion I do.

I told him I look more Latino/Mexican than Canelo Alvarez and he disagreed, the ginger looks 'very Mexican'.

I was in Queretaro, Puebla and Guadalajara, loads of hotties and loads of white women as well. The white women surprised me a bit to be honest though there were a lot of Mestizo's of course, most people weren't fat.